A Bedtime Story

The Babadook is the terrifying tale of a sinister children’s book. It involves a widowed mother trying to deal with her misbehaving son. Until one night when her son brings her a mysterious pop-up book called Mister Babadook to read at night. Meaning now that they know it exists, they’ll never stop being haunted until both of them are dead. The only reason I know it exists is because it kept popping up on “best horror movies of the decade” lists. Which I can definitely understand as it boasts a uniquely spooky atmosphere. The mother and her son are really the only important characters in the movie. It’s main theme is a child’s fear of monsters. Something I’m not sure I was afraid of when I was younger. The monster is also concealed for most of the movie. Mostly appearing in the aforementioned book. In fact, the book itself would be creepy enough on its own. Not something you should be reading to a kid. As for the Babadook’s appearance, he’s all white with black eyeshadow, a black mouth, black hair, a top hat, wearing all black, with pointy teeth, and long sharp fingers. Creepy, but I still have a hard time taking his name seriously. It’s also worth mentioning that the movie was directed by a woman. The Babadook certainly does make pop-up books scary.

Amelia reads Mister Babadook to her son